How I Met My Husband

When I was 16 years old and not showing any interest in dating my Dad became concerned. He had an aunt, Pauline, who never married. She was a terrific lady and we all loved her dearly, but Dad didn’t want me to live my life alone as she did. My family didn’t have money; so, when he found out that I had turned down a dance invitation from the son of one of the wealthiest families in town he panicked.

Without saying a word to anyone – not even Mother, he began praying every day, “God, please don’t let Alice go through life alone like Aunt Pauline. Please provide her with a good husband. Give her a good man who will love her, and provide for her, and protect her; and give them a good life together.”

After he’d been praying that prayer for about three months a young man started working at the same company where he worked. About two months later Dad, who was still praying, told Mother about his prayers and about the young man. He said, “I can’t explain it, but I know that he is the one for Alice. I just don’t know how to bring them together.” Her advice was to pray about that, and so he did.

I was a “girly girl”. I enjoyed cooking and sewing; I loved all things soft and gentle, lacy and floral, and pink and lavender. There was no tomboy in me. But at the end of that school year I decided that I wanted to do something really different that summer. Something that would surprise everyone at school that fall. As I mentioned, my family didn’t have money so whatever it was it couldn’t cost much. Then one evening at dinner my brothers were all excited because the Boys Club was starting a judo class at no cost, except for your gi. They were begging Daddy to let them join, and I knew it was just what I was looking for, even though it was at the Boys Club – as in boys only.

When I expressed an interest, Dad saw his opportunity. I don’t know how he managed it, but he arranged for me to become the first girl member of the Boys Club – limited to the judo class. Then he asked that young man at the office, “Have you ever considered taking judo lessons?”

The first night that he came to the class, when Dad introduced us, we shook hands. The moment our hands touched the thought that popped into my mind was, “So this is the man I’m going to marry. Oh, my goodness. . . where did that come from!” In retrospect I understand that God was confirming with me what He had already revealed to Dad.

During about the third week we were paired to fight each other, and I flipped him. In that moment when he was flat on his back and I was bent over, looking down at him he asked, “Would you like to go for a cola after class?” We quickly became best friends and were married 18 months later.

We were married a little over a year when Dad shared his part of the story with us and I shared my part. My husband said, “I knew the moment I saw her.”

The story of how God brought us together (our God Story) illustrates the importance of prayer. I don’t believe in coincidence in the life of a child of God.  I don’t think it was coincidental that Dad became burdened by the thought that I might go through life alone, like Aunt Pauline, three months before he met my future husband. I believe that those three months of prayer prepared my Dad to recognize the one God planned for me to marry, and to do his part in bringing God’s plan to pass. Dad’s prayer for me was according to God’s will.

I think it’s important to note that Dad didn’t begin looking for someone for me. He merely prayed about the burden on his heart, and trusted God to bring me the right one, at the right time.

THE REST OF THE STORY – Ours was the marriage everyone expects to have when they say, “I do”. We were both saved before we met, but we grew in the Lord together. We were still best friends when he went home to heaven shortly before our 41st anniversary. God answered all of Dad’s prayer – he loved me, provided for me, protected me, and we had a good life together.